U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just days after President Biden's statements cautioning Israel on protecting civilians in Gaza. The visit comes immediately after a similar one made by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Amidst these diplomatic maneuvers, an American warship responded to an attack on a mercantile ship in the Red Sea today. The U.S.S Karni received a distress signal from a ship under assault by multiple projectiles. This is the latest in a series of identical attacks by Houthi forces on commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea.
Global oil conglomerate, BP, has ceased all shipping activity through the Red Sea due to escalating hostilities in the region impacting security. Other major firms have also hit the pause button on their shipping through the area.
Secretary Austin's visit to Israel represents a full-scale U.S. endeavor to persuade Israel to initiate the next warfare phase, minimize civilian casualties, and consider steps post-Hamas. Focusing on a straightforward assessment from Israeli officials, Austin will probe into progress made against Hamas and what remains to be completed before transitioning to a less aggressive combat phase.
Special operations raids, intelligence-backed incursions in and out of urban centers, aiming at fewer civilian casualties, are expected in the next stage. Timing the shift, however, remains a disconnect between U.S. and Israeli officials. Future meetings will now focus on finding a common ground on the dispute.
Additionally, ensuring security for commercial shipping in the Red Sea in light of recent attacks has become a priority for the United States. Decisions by other major shipping companies to cease operations in the Red Sea have come after repeated attacks and threats by the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran.
This weekend, the USS Karni responded to a distress call from a commercial vehicle and neutralized 14 drones fired from Yemen. As the security situation continues to deteriorate, it could lead to significant economic consequences. It raises U.S. concern over escalating regional conflict and the need to strengthen assets in the impacted region.
